Voicing Political Spots

Tom Pagnotti · **Voice Talent** Joined: 18 Jul 2007 Posts: 220

What Deby said seems to validate JS’s contention that people will tell you what you they think you want to hear. (i.e. not wanting to be associated with a loosing candidate… at least publically)

I agree with September about never voicing anything that slams culture, religion or personal rights but I gotta eat. I may not agree personally with the claim made in a spot - any spot - but it’s not up to me to decipher what is “the truth”.

While I never act as a political lemming and vote straight party line – I am fairly liberal in my social views. So it is rather amusing to me that the only issue ads or candidate spots I’ve voiced this season have been those that lean right.

I think the idea of shutting out an entire genre of voiceover is shortsighted… but to each his own.

But I must point out my own shortsightedness: I’ve shut out the idea of doing anything that has to do with “building your wealth” (You know the type of spot: “earn money while you sleep”!) That sort of thing is repulsive to me – but I don’t judge those that do that sort of material.

Melba Sibrel · Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008, 22:47 (GMT) Post subject:

Earn money while I sleep?! I could do that. Where do I sign up?

Diane Havens · **Voice Talent** Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Posts: 1281

Melba Sibrel · Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008, 22:59 (GMT) Post subject:

Diane Havens · **Voice Talent** Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Posts: 1281

Aw, I loved the days of Scooby Doo -- talk about a formula... hmm, and you ARE a master of disguise...

And JS, are you telling us you gave the candidates the ol' Gilbert bump? (a la Stephen Colbert)

Connie Terwilliger · **Voice Talent** Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 409

Larry, there is a thread over at Julie's forum on this topic if you want to read more - it was a poll. Here is the link.

http://www.voice-overs.com/forum/general-voice-over-chit-chat/842-voicing-political-other-vos-conflict-your-values.html

But here's basically my response. First of all, I do political spots frequently. That being said, I am usually upfront with the client that there is a line in the sand - and the fact that it is in the sand makes it hard to quantify. "I'll know it when I see it" sort of line. I'll let the client know that if the campaign starts heading into total mud slinging, I will probably reach a point where I'll have to say no.

Basically if a script makes me uncomfortable, I will refuse to do it. (Now, if it was in a market outside my market and I was able to use a different "voice," I think I'd have a hard time turning down BIG money.)

I got blindsided once many years ago - had just been to a studio the day before to do an auto spot and got a call from my agent asking if I could quickly get over to that studio to record - quickly in like a half an hour. I was able to - didn't even ask her what the job was - just jumped in the car and headed over. I was met in the parking lot by the producer who actually thrust the script at me through the car window. I scanned it and froze - it was a vitriolic ad for the local mayoral campaign. It wasn't that I was for the other candidate - it was simply a really nasty spot. So I told him that I wouldn't be able to voice the spot and then raced up the steps to call my agent (pre-cell phones). I got the usual "you'll never work in this town again" speech.

As I was leaving the parking lot, the engineer was just pulling in (it was lunch time) and asked me where I was going. I told him that I just couldn't do the spot and he said, "You're the second one." THAT was the reason for the last minute call. I heard the spot the next day done by what sounded like the receptionist at the station.

Then more recently, I started doing some spots for a campaign in a small county in the south somewhere - they loved the reads and came back with another spot and then another. We discussed the issue of going "too far" in the scripts and he asked me where that line might be. I told him that it was hard to tell, but that if it was a "liar, liar, pants on fire" kind of thing that might be the line. A day later he sent me a note telling me that the next spot had THOSE EXACT WORDS in it! Well, in the context that they were used, it was actually acceptable, but we sure got a huge laugh out of that one.

J.S. Gilbert · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008, 00:13 (GMT) Post subject: a poll

I thought my post if nothing else said not to trust polls. Polls indicated that Hillary Clinton had a fairly substantial lead over Senator Obama, but the polls were land line and failed to take into account that 22% of all American homes have gone strictly cellular. Of that 22%, a substantial number of those people represented the lowest 2 socio economic groups in our country and were decidely for Obama vs. Clinton.

Again we see that

a) the people most likely to give their opinion are not representative of the collective opinion

b) people lie

I spoke with one of my agents today and asked how many of the actors or actresses they represented would refuse to do a political spot. The answer was "I think 2 or maybe 3" that is out of over 120 represented talents. clearly the minority.

My guess is that many of the people saying they would never do a political spot (not all but many) are people who have never had the issue come up.

There are several different universes we also ned to to look at becuase the term voiceover encompasses so many genres, industries and media.

What percentage ofthe people who say they would not voice a political spot are commercial voice actors who primarily derive income fgrom doing voiceover and have actually turned down the opportunity to voice a political spot, having been offered money to record one?

The number is probably very, very small. However it's extremely difficult todetermine what this number might be becuase such data is not collected and the sources for the data are not reliable.

Connie Terwilliger · **Voice Talent** Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 409

Correcto mundo - JS. We continue to see evidence of skewed poll results due to poor samples.

Melba Sibrel · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008, 00:39 (GMT) Post subject:

Being the statistician, J.S., I think you'll appreciate the data gathering and interpretation I've done for you. Based on this thread we know this about the respondents' willingness to associate with parties:

Mr. Jadah: A party is a bag of chips and a 6-pack.

Hip Chick: Only the right kinds of parties.

September: Casual dress only parties.

Diane: Will accept some invitations; but refuses those that might hurt others' feelings who weren't invited.

Michael: Doesn't go to parties; but will point out the house where the party is being held.

Me: No parties. And don't park in front of my house, either.

Tom: Tupperware parties.

Brice: Parties are fine -- but no clowns.

Allen: Strictly poker.

The Big L: Naughty parties. With food.

Mr. Z: Any party that September is at.

Deby: Pink Rodeo Parties!!

Connie: Doesn't really like parties -- only fundraisers to benefit the blindsided.

And

J.S.:....gets invited to alllll the parties. Well, really it's just his avatar.

Connie Terwilliger · **Voice Talent** Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 409

One thing I DO like about doing politicals is that I very rarely have to audition for them! Get copy - read copy - get money.

J.S. Gilbert · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008, 00:54 (GMT) Post subject: early on in the career

Very funny stuff Melba.

I also don't necessarily equate one deciding to or not to record a political spot with someone who has m ade a determination not to read something that openly advocates racism, hatred, degradation of women and many other morally apalling things that could potentially come up.

There are many things I will say in a role for a video game that might cause "parents who can't raise their children and constantly require someone else to blame" to take arms against, but I do not play "bitch slappin pimps".

Or perhaps it's just that nobody's ever offered me enough money to do that sort of thing.

Kind of like the man who offers a woman 1 million dollars to sleep with him and she says sure. Then he asks her if she's sleep with him for $50 and she says "What kind of girl do you think I am?"

To which he responds "I thought that was established. Now we're just haggling over price."

-- to thine own self be true

J.S. Gilbert · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008, 00:56 (GMT) Post subject: and one last thing

Oh and Melba

If you see my avatar, could you tell him to be a little more quiet when he gets in this evening.

Last night he came home at 3am and knocked over the garbage can.

Thanks,
j.s.

Caryn Clark · **Voice Talent** Joined: 27 Mar 2005 Posts: 1000

Melba Sibrel · Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008, 01:31 (GMT) Post subject:

Allison Scussel · **Voice Talent** Joined: 25 Apr 2007 Posts: 928

Allen, I love your article! You brought up a lot of valuable points I didn't even think about.

Although I've never been asked nor auditioned for a political spot before, I would only say "no" if the candidate was within the listening area where I work as an on-air personality. This would cover 4 states on the east coast, so if a local candidate in the midwest and beyond wanted to hire me for my pipes, I'd wear the oral fishnet stockings for money. Wink

For many years, a man's voice was the authortative choice for political ads on TV and radio. However; over the years I've noticed quite a few female voices in politicals in major markets like NYC, Philly, Baltimore, and DC. Is it the same case everywhere else?